Professional Judgment & Dependency Override

Due to a variety of circumstances, students and parents may find the information they provided on the FAFSA does not realistically reflect their family’s ability to provide financial support for the student’s education, or that their financial aid does not fully cover their true cost of attendance (COA). Or, due to their family situation, a student who is otherwise qualified as a dependent student may qualify as an independent student. When this happens, a student may choose to submit a Professional Judgment (PJ) or Dependency Override (DO) appeal to our office requesting that their situation be reviewed.

Professional Judgment (PJ)

A student may request a Professional Judgment: 1) to adjust the components of the student’s COA, or 2) to adjust the data elements used to calculate the student’s EFC/SAI.

Examples of reason a student might request a professional judgment include, but are not limited, to the following:

  • The student’s parent or spouse has passed away since completing the FAFSA

  • The family has incurred extraordinary medical/dental expenses

  • The student’s parent is attending college at least half-time in a degree-seeking program

  • The student’s parent has retired since completing the FAFSA

  • The student or the student’s parents have separated or divorced since completing the FAFSA

  • The student’s or parent(s)’ income has been significantly reduced since completing the FAFSA

  • The student or parent(s) no longer receives untaxed benefits such as child support, or other sources of income

  • The parent or student has received a one-time disbursement of funds (i.e. severance package, bonus, etc...) which were unavailable for educational expenses

Dependency Override (DO)

A student may request a Dependency Override: 1) to make a dependent student an independent student, or 2) for a dependent student to request an Unsubsidized Stafford loan under the Direct Loan program without requiring the parents to file a FAFSA. 

None of the following circumstances qualify a student for a Dependency Override:

  1. Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education,

  2. Parents will not provide information for the FAFSA or verification,

  3. Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes, or

  4. Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

A student requesting an Unsubsidized Stafford loan under the Direct Loan program without requiring the parents to file a FAFSA must provide documentation (1) that his or her parents refuse to complete the FAFSA and (2) that they do not and will not provide any financial support to him or her (include the date support ended). If the parents refuse to sign and date a statement to this effect, the student must provide documentation from a third party, such as a teacher, counselor, cleric, or court.

Requesting a Professional Judgment or Dependency Override

To request a Professional Judgment (PJ) or Dependency Override (DO) please submit a letter of appeal describing you or your family’s situation and the action you are requesting with documentation. The letter of appeal should be printed, signed, and dated. In almost all cases, third party documentation will be required. Please include the student’s name and student number on all documentation. Upon receipt and review of the appeal, additional documentation may be requested as needed. 

Please allow at least two to six weeks, after submitting all requested documentation, for appeal results. Please note, a successful appeal does not guarantee additional aid, and sometimes additional aid is not immediately available.

An appeal result may not be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.